Sandy Leaves One N.J. Man With Unwanted Company In Backyard
.
By Robin Rieger
MANAHAWKIN, N.J. (CBS) - Bill Halbeissen's Manahawkin, New Jersey backyard won't be ready for entertaining anytime soon, thanks to flooding from Hurricane Sandy.
It used to feature outdoor decks and seating for company that enjoyed beautiful views of the mill creek that flows into the Barnegat Bay.
"It's a friendly community, it's a boating oriented community," Halbeissen said.
When he returned after the storm, some unexpected company was waiting for him. Someone's 25 foot Chris-Craft boat had floated onto his yard and was wedged between the bushes and his house. A 22 foot Sea Ray was adrift next to a neighbors dock that parked itself here too.
"I feel like I have a marina here", he said.
Halbeissen says he gave his local police department the registration numbers for both of the boats that ended up in his back hard. The larger one is from the neighborhood. The smaller one had taken quite a ride.
"Just floated 8 miles as the crow flies. Eight miles, that's pretty incredible and ends up in my backyard," he said.
"I had no idea if I'd ever see the boat again and it's amazing, the journey it took unmanned", Joe Varalli, who owns the Sea Ray, said.
Tuesday afternoon a crew was moving Halbeissen's sailboat that floated to his front yard. They will remove the Chris-Craft and Varalli will get his boat out too.
"This guy Joe seems like a nice guy, I'll cut him a break on storage", Halbeissen said.
Halbeissen can't begin to really cleanup after the party called Sandy until his uninvited guests go home.
